Drexel had a huge comeback win to defeat No. 2 Hofstra on Saturday.
Hempstead, N.Y. – Drexel scored seven fourth-quarter goals, including three in a span of 46 seconds in the final two minutes to shock No. 2 Hofstra, 13-12, at Shuart Stadium. Jake O'Donnell scored the game-winner on the man-up with 1:02 to play as the Dragons rallied from a seven-goal deficit to hand the Pride (10-1) its first loss of the season. The Dragons trailed by seven goals at halftime but scored seven times in the fourth quarter to improve to 2-1 in CAA play and 5-6 overall.
Reid Bowering had a career day in leading the Dragons to the upset. The freshman set career-highs with five goals and seven points. Seniors Cole Shafer and Robert Frazee each scored three times, with Shafer handing out a pair of assists. It was only the second time in Drexel history that the Dragons defeated a team ranked as high as number two in the nation. Drexel upset No. 1 Virginia back in 2007.
With the win, the Dragons brought the HEADstrong Foundation's Hero Bowl trophy back to Philadelphia. The Hero Bowl battle between the two schools is in honor of the late HEADstrong Foundation founder and Hofstra Men's Lacrosse player, Nicholas Colleluori.
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Robert Frazee scored back-to-back goals, the first with 1:48 to go in the game and the next with 1:19 to play to even the score at 12-12. After the face-off, the Pride was called for a hold, giving the Dragons the man advantage. O'Donnell took advantage, scoring his fifth of the season, giving the Dragons the unlikely 13-12 lead. Hofstra won the ensuing draw and had two chances to tie. Josh Byrne had a shot, but Jimmy Joe Granito made the save and Ryan Tierney hit the post before Drexel gained possession and earned the unlikely come-from-behind win on the Pride's home turf.
The Dragons entered the final quarter trailing 11-6, but scored seven of the periods eight goals. Bowering, who had three goals in the fourth quarter, was set up by O'Donnell at the 11:11 mark to start the scoring barrage. Three minutes later, Bowering cut the lead to 11-8 with an unassisted score as the hometown fans could sense a Drexel rally. Hofstra aided in that rally by committing two penalties, which led to two Drexel extra-man goals. The first goal was scored by Shafer after a penalty to Brendan Lynch. At the 4:23 mark, Josh Byrne was called for a hold and 12 seconds into that penalty, Shafer found Bowering to make it a one-goal game at 11-10. The Pride grabbed the momentum back when Tierney scored his fourth goal of the game putting Hofstra up two with just 2:30 to play.
Hofstra scored the first five goals of the game and appeared to be in command of the game.
The Pride started the scoring three minutes in when Byrne scored his 30th goal of the year. Hofstra's Jimmy Yanes scored two of the next three goals, sandwiched around a Ryan Tierney score, as the Pride raced out to a 4-0 lead after one quarter.
Is this the most clutch save of the year in NCAA men's lacrosse? Jimmy Joe Granito preserves a one-goal lead as we upset unbeaten #2 Hofstra pic.twitter.com/2ry7ZzlfqK
— Drexel Men's Lax (@DrexelMLax) April 16, 2017
Hofstra's lead swelled to 5-0 before the Dragons got on the board with an unassisted goal from Reid Bowering. It was the freshman's 18th goal of the season. However, the Pride answered with two goals in a span of less than a minute. Yanes completed the hat trick with a goal at the 10:43 mark set up by Dylan Alderman. At 9:50, Alderman got on the board, putting Hofstra up 7-1. Robert Frazee stopped the run momentarily with his 18th of the year, but Hofstra added two more before intermission as Tierney scored his second and third of the day to give the Pride a healthy 9-2 lead at the half.
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Drexel's comeback bid started early in the third quarter. The Dragons scored three of the first four goals in the second half, trimming the Pride lead to 10-5. Bowering scored on the man-up in the opening minute of the third quarter on a feed from Marshal King. Brendan Kavanaugh answered for the Pride before King and Cole Shafer scored, cutting the deficit to five with 7:39 to play in the third quarter. Kavanaugh and Shafer exchanged goals later in the period as Hofstra went to the fourth ahead, 11-6.
Granito had another big game in the cage for the Dragons. The senior made 15 saves for Drexel, including eight in the final 15 minutes of play. He kept the Dragons in the game as the Pride outshot Drexel, 40-26. Each team won 14 face-offs. Freshman Jimmeh Koita had his best game as a Dragon, winning 14 of his 24 attempts. O'Donnell finished the day with three assists and his first game-winning goal of the season. Freshman Marshal King contributed a goal and two assists. The Dragons had four extra-man goals in six opportunities, all of which came in the second half.
Tierney scored a career-high five goals for the Pride and now has 25 on the year. All-American candidate Jack Concannon had six saves in goals for Hofstra.
The Dragons return home for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday against Delaware. Drexel will celebrate its 75th year of lacrosse throughout the day and will honor its 75th anniversary team at halftime.
